Are Indian farmers responding more to price signals than monsoons and MSP?

Urad and arhar have been yielding ground to the more remunerative soybean in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, two states that have received normal to excess rainfall

The monsoon has, so far this year, been deficient in many parts of the eastern and northeastern regions of the country. As a result, kharif sowing has fallen below the previous year’s levels in many of these regions. 

Interestingly however, this time around kharif acreage has dropped even in areas that have received normal to excess rainfall. 

In fact, data from the department of agriculture shows that till July 26, sowing of almost all crops except moong, soybean, jowar and sugarcane has been less than last year.

Responding to price signals 

The total area under urad cultivation in Madhya Pradesh,